December 9, 2015

Agricultural Research in Vietnam

Chris JacksonLead Economist,

Agriculture Global Practice, World Bank

Recent Trends and Emerging Challenges

Outline

• Vietnam’s agricultural miracle

• Trends in Vietnam’s R&D efforts

• An emerging Research agenda

• AgGDP increased on average by 4.2% over 1990 – 1999 and 3.7% per annum over 2000 – 2012

• Shifted from “Agric Based” to “Transition” country in 15 years– Similar to Chile; much more rapid than Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia

• Increasing productivity has been a major driver• Rice has been major factor

– Expansion of irrigation– Increased cropping intensity

Vietnam’s Agricultural Miracle [1]

Trends in Rice production and Area Planted; 1990 – 2010 Trends in Agricultural Productivity; 1991 – 2006

1980 1990 2000 2010single crop 1,572,800 887,277 431,389 342,250 double crop 642,500 1,154,046 1,398,062 1,057,366 triple crop 23,000 50,237 237,310 529,270 total rice land 2,238,300 2,091,560 2,066,761 1,928,886 total sown area 2,926,800 3,346,080 3,939,443 4,044,792 cropping intensity 1.31 1.60 1.91 2.10

Trends in Cropping Intensity in MKD; 1980 – 2010

• Agricultural productivity has had a major impact on poverty– Focus on lowland rice areas (RRD & MKD)– Mountainous regions: diverse livelihoods, beyond rice

Vietnam’s Agricultural Miracle [2]

Poverty Maps; 1999 – 2009

• Rice production increased substantially– 31 million mt (average: 2996 – 2000); 45 million mt (average: 2008 – date)

• Rice export 7 million mt – worth around US$ 3.5bn• Almost all exports from ‘core rice belt’ in MKD

– (some informal trade to China from RRD)• Reflects dominance of rice in varietal R&D

– 57% of new seed varieties over 2004 - 2013• Emerging private sector in MKD

– Increased private sector R&D (since 2001)– 1992/93: 97% of investment in R&D was publically funded

Vietnam’s Agricultural Miracle [3]

New Rice Varieties Released; 2010 – 2013 Release of New Varieties; 2004 – 2013

Core Rice Belt in the MKD

• Consistent with decline in state research effort– Expenditure on Agric R&D < 0.2% of agGDP

• Brazil: 1.8% (2006); China 0.5% (2007)– Increase in higher education researchers

• 1996: 1960; 2002: 2,716; 2008: 3,514– Little change in government researchers– Among Lowest % of PhDs in EAP & SAR

• Only Laos and Cambodia have less

• Shift in focus areas for public R&D– Focus on rice remains – but reduced

• 2003: 30% of research staff (Govt and HE)• 2010: 15% of research staff

– Among the most balanced in EAP & SAR

Trends in Vietnam’s R&D Effort [1]

Expenditure on R&D (constant 2011 US$ million)

Number of researchers, by Institution (2000 – 2010)

Vietnam Cambodia Malaysia BangladeshOil Palm 34%Rice 13% 54% 12% 19%Vegetables 11% 20% 9% 9%Fruit 10% 20% 12%Corn 9%Barley 7%Other 50% 26% 59% 60%

Research Focus By Crop Scientist 2009/10

• Agricultural R&D fragmented across– Prior to 2005: 28 institutes and 2 universities– Consolidated in 16 agencies: 12 research institutes and 4 universities

• Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Science (VAAS) – 18 institutes/ centers• Vietnam Academy of Forest Services (13) & Water Resources (15)• 9 Institutes & 4 Universities

– Funding has increased – around $40 million p.a.• Remains limited• Funding managed by MoST

• External financing of agricultural R&D also declining– ODA to MARD 1991 – 2001 from many sources

• bilateral donors closed their programs– CGIAR system present

• Multi-center programs• Questions over scale and fragmentation• Decline in bilateral funding

Trends in Vietnam’s R&D Effort [2]

ODA to Agriculture (constant 2011 US$ million)

• Overall Vietnam yields are amongst the highest in the region

• Major concerns over unsustainable agricultural practices

Emerging Research Agenda [1]

Comparison of Yields for Selected Crops (MT/Ha)

Agro-Environmental Hotspots

• High(er) Quality rice for export– Grown in the MKD– Largely private sector financed

• Focus on quality• Seek to lower price differential

• Low Quality rice for domestic consumption– Lowland: MKD and RRD

• Climate resilient – saline tolerant– Upland: Ethnic Minority areas

• Part of diversified livelihoods

• Transition out of rice– Other cereals: leave to private sector

• Maize in particular (animal feed)

Emerging Research Agenda [2]

Predicted Saline Intrusion from Sea Level Rise

Rice Differential for Vietnamese Rice 2000 - 2013

Thankyou for your attention.

cjackson1@worldbank.org